I love my Steam Controller. I still use it majority of the time over my playstation, nintendo, and xbox controllers because of the touchpads.
But, I didn't like using the touchpads on the Deck because of the size, shape, and orientation making it a regression for maining the touchpads for the games I play. So not surprised by the leak, since Valve would obviously be better off focusing on making the ergonomics better for joystick users than touchpad users. Still let down because it'll mean for touchpad focused users like me Steam Controller is the only touchpad centric controller on the market with great ergonomics, size with 40mm concave pads, and circular shape for more consistent swipes.
But, it is discontinued and the gyro feels aged compared to the options out there. Will still be using it though from the looks of it for years to come hoping for an eventual dual pad centric controller from some niche group.
"...it clearly has both 2 thumb sticks and 2 track pads."
Hell yes, I am very bullish on the two thumb sticks and two touchpads being the controller format that will establish the steam deck/handheld gaming pc as the future of gamepads.
It won't necessarily be a quick, all at once change, but that is because it is a strategic longterm play to reframe what a gamepad is, what its limitations are, and what kind of games can be played with a gamepad.
It will be the kind of thing people look back and point to as the beginning of the whole industry shifting into a new paradigm where playing cool indie games with a gamepad is something people associate with pc gaming first, console gaming second.
They need to market it properly. The average gamer didn't know how to use the SC to its fullest potential. I would recommend free software that showcases the controllers abilities that can be used with competitor controllers for comparisons. Software with simple games that teaches the user how to make use of all the functions would be a great boon to their sales. It would also help reviews spread the word.
I have big hands, and just looking at this picture makes me think even I'm going to have trouble using the control sticks normally. They're literally the closest thing to the center of the controller.
That being said, it's just my first impression of it, and this looks like it might just be a prototype, so I'll wait and see.
I fear that, just like the Steam Deck's controller, it won't be usable without Steam running. IMO by default and without any special "driver" running in the background, the sticks and buttons should just behave like a Xbox controller.
@Fubarberry Sadly caving to the need to have so many different inputs much like the Steam Deck, it looks much less elegant and striking than the original Steam Controller. Like it's trying to be several different things in one package instead of the bold new single direction of the original SC.
I have the original Steam controller still in a box. I didn’t like it at the time, but others seem to love it. I’m wondering if I should dig it out and give it another try, or did another iteration come out that improved on it?
Non concave? Square trackpads? Clear preference to analog sticks? This seems like a worse Xbox controller on the surface. Unless the ergonomics are somehow amazing I would be hesitant to buy it (and I own an original steam controller).
God dammit, why will nobody bring back 6 button pads? I'm so sick and tired of having to buy a separate controller just for fighting games. This controller would be absolutely perfect if it just had two more buttons...